Abstract
Electricity generation projects are critical to Kenya's economic growth and energy security, with the Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) playing a leading role in electricity production and infrastructure development. Despite continued investment in electricity generation projects, challenges related to schedule delays, cost overruns, and quality performance persist, raising concerns about the effectiveness of project management strategies. This study examined the influence of project planning and stakeholder engagement on the performance of electricity generation projects at KenGen. A descriptive survey design within a mixed-methods approach was adopted. The target population comprised 1,200 employees involved in electricity generation projects, from which a sample of 112 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling, while purposive sampling was used to select key informants. Primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression with the aid of SPSS Version 28, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that project planning has a positive and statistically significant influence on project performance (β = 0.238, p = 0.001), indicating that effective planning, realistic scheduling, and structured planning tools improve project delivery outcomes. Stakeholder engagement also exhibited a positive and significant influence on project performance (β = 0.267, p < 0.001), making it the strongest predictor among the variables studied. The study concludes that strengthening project planning practices and institutionalizing effective stakeholder engagement mechanisms are essential for improving project delivery in terms of timeliness, cost efficiency, quality, and stakeholder acceptance. The study recommends greater adoption of integrated project planning systems, enhanced use of digital planning tools, and structured stakeholder participation throughout the project lifecycle to improve the performance and sustainability of electricity generation projects in Kenya.
Keywords: Project planning, stakeholder engagement, project performance, electricity generation projects, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Kenya